Golf

Question about Tiger Woods note leads to awkward end to Neal Shipley press conference

Neal Shipley’s dream Masters week ended on a strange note.

Shipley was the only amateur to make the cut at Augusta this weekend and played his final round on Sunday with Tiger Woods.

Shipley spoke glowingly about Woods and the experience of playing with him, however, he had an odd reaction to one question about the five-time Masters champ.

Shipley, who played college golf at James Madison University and is currently a grad student at Ohio State, was asked about a note Woods supposedly passed to him on the eighth hole.

Shipley immediately turned his head to look at the Masters official running the press conference before saying, “No, he didn’t.”

The reporter, though, insisted he saw Woods write something down and pass it to Shipley.

Tiger Woods and Neal Shipley during the final round of The Masters. Getty Images

“No, no that didn’t happen,” Shipley, 23, said.

And with that, the press conference abruptly ended.

As the low amateur, Shipley later got his moment in Butler Cabin with Masters champ Scottie Scheffler.

Shipley shot an opening round 71 to put himself in position to make the cut and then put up a 76 in the windy conditions on Friday.

Neal Shipley was the only amateur to make the cut at The Masters. Getty Images

Shipley struggled with an 80 on Saturday before finishing the memorable week with a 73.

“Playing with Tiger, Sunday at the Masters, the whole week, I think I have to win one of these things to kind of top this week,’’ said Shipley, who got into the field after being the runner-up at the US Amateur last year.

“Definitely been a dream week, but looking forward to being out here [as a pro] soon hopefully.’’

Woods was 1-over and in strong position entering the weekend as he made his record-breaking 24th straight cut at The Masters.

However, he suffered through an abysmal weekend, shooting 82 and 77 and finishing last among the players who made the cut.

Neal Shipley during his post-Masters press conference. NuclrGolf/X

“It was a good week all around,” Woods said. “Coming in here, not having played a full tournament in a very long time, it was a good fight on Thursday and Friday. Unfortunately, [Saturday] it didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted it to.”